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JAMES HAMILTON, OF NEWv YORK, N. Y.

MILL FOR CURVILINEAR SAWING.

Speccatoii of Letters Patent No. 8,872, dated April 13, 1852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HAMILTON, of the city and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Sawing Wood,applicable to various useful purposes, more particularly to the sawingof ship-timbers, &c.

The nature of thefsaid invention, and the manner in which the same is tobe performed, are fully described `and ascertained, in and by thefollowingstatement thereof, reference being had to the drawings hereuntoannexed, and to the figures and letters of reference thereon.

The invention consists, first, of means of supporting timber, when beingcut to varin ous bevels.

Secondly. The invention consists 4of chucks, or apparatus, for holdingtimber at the ends, when being `cut or sided, and in `supporting suchchucks.

Lastly, the invention consists of improvements in apparatus, forindicating the directions, or bevels, to which timber is to be cut.

And in order that the invention may be more fully understood, andreadily carried into effect, and to enable others to make and use i myinvent-ion I will proceed to describe the means used by me,` referencebeing hadto the drawings hereunto annexed which show so much of sawingmachinery, as will enable `a workman readily to understand the same,aided by the` following description.

`The present are not new inventions, but are additions to, `andimprovements on the machinery for sawing, for which Letters Patent weregranted to me in the United States, in the years 1842, and 1843. Auditwill only be desirable t-o remark, that I do not confine myself `to theprecise details shown and described, so long as the peculiar characterof either part of the present in- ,vention be retained; and I wouldstate, that I do not now claim the mounting of a log of timber on axes,and'causing it to be cut by asaw, or saws, moving on` axes, and

1mounted in inner saw gates, or frames mov- `ing laterally, freely in anouter gate, suoli general arrangement of machinery being `fullydescribed under my former patent.

\ Sheet 1, shows a side view of themachine.

Sheet 2, is a cross section, behind the saws,

machine. Sheet 4, shows a mode of beveling.

Sheet 5, shows a variation in the mode of beveling.

In these sheets and figures, the same letters and marks of reference areused, to indicate similar parts in all the she-ets and figures.

The first part of the invention consists of a mode of giving support tothe timber, near the saw, in cases where such support is required; butin practice, I have not found such support generally required; theholding it by dogs, at either end, being genen ally sufficient; and itis only in cases where the timber is light, and springy, or of aconsiderable bend that such support becomes necessary.

Sheet 2, Fig. l, a, is a roller, the axes or necks of which are carriedby a frame b, such frame being carried by a bar c, which at its lowerend, is supported by a lever al. This lever is supported by a hangingbracket e, the bar c, is kept upright, by passing through the beam f,and slide boX c1, which is iXed on the beam f, to give eX- tent ofguiding surface to the bar c. By this means the roller will be supportedin its center, and offer support to the timber moving over it; and inorder that the supporting `roller a, 1may be enabled to give y, tothejlever d, sufficient to sustain the downward pressure of the log. Theroller a may be raised, or lowered, by any competent means acting on thelever d.

The frame b, is made to vibrate or oscillate on the pin bx, Fig. 1,Sheet 2, and can be fixed at any angle, by means of the set screw Z,`which `runs through the quadrant slots m, in the sides of the frame b.

The angle at which the roller a, must be set must be always such, aswill bring it properlyV in contact with the log being sawed.

The second part of the invention consists of an improved form of chuck,for holding` the ends of timber when being sided. This apparatus isshown in sheet l.. Figs. l, 2,

chucks, on which the ends of the timber rest, these chucks are placed onthe aXes 0, o", of the `lnead blocks, and are made fast, by means `ofscrews passing into `the sliding supports y0, p, afliXed under thecenters 0, 0X,V on the side of the head blocks; the lower and 3, a, n,are the holding ends of these support-s p, p, and the under sides of thechucks n, n, rest on, and are sustained by, the center bar g, and slideupon it, as the log progresses while being cut; the chucks n, n, carryholding dogs nx, nx, shown in plan in Figs. 2 and 3, moving on axes 7',1 and the log is securely held in position, by driving the outer ends ofthe dogs nx, fax, into the log, to retain it while two slabs are sawedoff, one on either side, or what isl termed siding the log.

The means for moving the log, while be-V in sawed to the desired bevel,is as follows: The timber is mounted on the axes 0, 0X, by suit-abledogs or chucks. I prefer, in most cases, the clamping chucks, or dogs,shown in plan in Sheet 2, Figs. 6 and 7, or the chuck Figs. 10 and 11,may be used; or these dogs may be varied, to suit particular cases, twovariations are shown in plan, in Figs. 1, and 3 Sheet 5, actingdiagonally on other than the center line, to allow the saw to be entereddiagonally, or to finish the cut in the same manner.

Figs. 2, and 4, Sheet 5, show elevations of clamping chucks, or dogs,which may be used when required; these being the means lof securing thetimber, the rotation or motion of it, is effected by the followingmeans.

Sheet 2, Figs. S, and 9, represent chucks, with timber in dotted lines,also a bar s, which at its lower end, has a plate formed thereon, withholes, or a quadrant slot through it, see Fig. 12, the bar s, beingfitted to move freely on the axis a, and capable of being attached tothe chuck, or

dog by a screw t, Fig. 8, passing through the slot or holes in theplate, on the lower end of the bars. The bar s, is made in two parts,with a slide on each, taking the other, and so combined, as to slide andeX- pand or contract in length, as shown by the drawing.

On the upper end of the bar s, Sheet 2, Fig. 12, is formed a screwsocket u, which is connected to the bar s, by a pin joint, or axis fu,the underside of the screw socket having dovetails, which move in fixedguides on the bar IV, see Fig. 4, Sheet .4, or the socket umay be guidedby any competent means; the lower4 part of the bar W, is

slotted, to allow the bar s, to move freely from side to side of themachine. X is a screw, supported 1n bearings on the ends of the bar WV;this bar W, is mounted on standards y, y, the lower ends of which arebolted firmly to the head block e. It will ynow be seen, that accordingas the lscrew X,

is turned in one direction, or the other, so will be the direction, inwhich the bar s, is moved on the aXis, with the log of timber fiXedthereto. Motion is given to the screw X, by means of the hand wheel A,Fig. 12, Sheet 2, and Fig. 5, YSheet 5, fixed on the which takes intothe cog wheel A3, on the axis of the screw X, and in order 'to give aquicker motio-n to the screw X, when it is desired to run the bar s,back a crank handle B, is applied to the end of the screw X; by thisarrangement, the workman will be able-to turn the log o-n the axes o,0X, with facility; and by the application of what I call a bevel, orindeX board, as hereafter eX- plained, he will be able to do so,according to such board, and cause the log to turn in such a manner, asto have the desired bevel or bevels cut by the saw or saws.

I would state, in respect to this part of the invention, that thepeculiar character consists in the mode of applying a screw X to thebars s. I would, however, remark, that I do not claim the use of thescrew and. socket generally for this purpose, as a mode of using a screwand socket was described,

in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, and Sheet 3, shows thek saws and gates in plan. C,C, is the outer gate, moving up and down on the guides D, D, (formed inany convenient manner) by pitmen E, E, the Lipper ends being connectedto the outer gate C, and their lower ends to the crank pins F, F, onthefly wheels G, Gr, which fly wheels are driven by the fast and loosepulleys I-I, I-I, by power communicated in the usual way. I, I, I, I,are the two inner gates, sliding independently of each other, and onopposite sides of the top and bottom railsof the outer gate. The innergates are connected with the outer gate, by gromtes IX, I", which slideon the outer gate freely, enabling the attendant workman to followdifferent curves, or lines, which may be marked on the surface of thelog. J, J, are the four buckles on each two inner gates I, I, and may bemoved to the right, Vor left, or either, as occasion requires. Thesebuckles are more clearly shown in Sheet 2, Figs. 2 and 3, and it will beseen, that when the saws are stretched in their respective framesstrained by the screw uL, which has a steel point on which the saw maybe turned as a center in the buckle J, which is hollowed out to receiveit; each saw has two buckles of the same description, one at the top andthe other at bottom; the saws, as shown and described are capable ofturning freely on the centers L, enabling the workman, by the aid of theforked levers Figs. 14, and 15, Sheet 2, (described in my patents beforereferred to,) acting on the backs of the saws, such instruments beingsupported in the slotted bar M, see red lines in Fig. 1, Sheet 2. Theends of said bar M, are extended and attached to the fender posts N, N.

Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2, show another mode of hanging the saws to allowof their being turned.

Sheet 2, Fig. 12., which is a view of the `back head block, and Fig.18., which is a are sliding supports, fixed under the head blocks,

view of the front head blocks. 29, p,

to support them, these supports rest and `slide on the rail or bar, g,g, fixed below,

and it is by the use of these sliding projections or supports, p, p,together with the rails Q, q., that the head blocks are made morestable.

In order to indicate where the cut-s are to be made, when siding a log,there are index plates fixed, one on the front of the slide box fw.,Sheet 2,\Fig. 12, and Sheet 4, Figs. 1 and 4, on the back head blocks,the other on the cross tie bar M between the frames N., Ain fro-nt ofthe saw gate; O', is an index plate, with a slot, so as to allow of twoplumb lines 0, 0', as shown; each line having a button on its upper end,which canV slide along the slot in the index plate, and the index platesare graduated on each side of their centers, the center being marked o.,the number, in inches, commencing from their centers, which are over thecenters or axes 0, 0X of the dogs, or chucks, on which the timber ismounted; the same arrangement is made, on the index plate placed infront of the saws, as in the vone just described, the timber beingdogged in the center of the machine, and the lines being set in theirproper places to the right and left; showing the thickness of the slabto be taken off then the saws are` set, and made fashby the set screwsIXX IXX., and prevented from moving laterally, and compelled to go inthe direction the lines indicated as in straight sawing, in common sawmills, but if i'he timber is not to be sided straight ihe screws IXX,are to be slackened, and thesaws guided as with curved sawing.

I will now describe the mode of laying out various bevels required to besawed, and the means used, to indicate these bevels to the workman, sothat he can move the log, by thescrew X, and cut the bevels as desired.

In order to layout the bevels to whichthe log is to be cut, on one orboth sides, I use a board P., Sheet 1, Figs. 4, and 5., on which theworkman marks the successive bevels to be cut on a log, by means of abevel square, as indicated by the lines on the smali board P., therebeing as many bevel lines marked on the board P., as there are differentbevels to be cut in the log itself; and I 1mark out the distances, onthe log itself, between each successive bevel; thus supposing that thelog was to lie with its underside horizontal, and the saw or saws tocommence at right angles thereto, the log would be xed in the chucks ordogs to that position, and the bar S, Sheet 1., Fig. 1., would bevertical; then supposing, that in making a cut for three feet, it berequired to arrive at a certain angle, or bevel, that angle, or bevel,would be marked on the board P., and numbered 2.; Vthen supposing thatit be desired, that at this point the bevels were to be varied, and to acertain other angle, by the time the saw or saws arrived at a. seconddetermined point on the log, such second angle would be marked on theboard P., and numbered 3, and so on. This board P., is then tobe placedin the instrument, Sheet 1., Fig. 9., which has two parallel edges Q,and R., and a bar or rule S, on an axis in line with the apex of theangles on the board P. A board T, with a slot therein (see also Figs. 6,7, and 8, Sheet 1,) is to be fixed on this frame, on the upperl edge Q.,so that the angles may be transferred from the board P., on lto theboard T, by means of the rule S.; then the board T, is to be fixed tothe upper end of the bar S., as shown in Sheet 4, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, bya screw and nut securing` the board T, by means of its slot, to thesocket or nut u., so that the board T., moves with the bar S., as thatis moved by the screw X.; the mark No. 1, being on the center line ofthe machine, and under the bar V, next to be described.

In Sheet 4, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, U, is the beveling bar described in myformer patent,

which is to be fixed above the centers of the machine, vertical over thecenter of the axes 0, 0X. In this bar there is a groove, or othersuitable means, to guide the bar V, allowing it to slide freely withoutrotating, the bar V., being sustained by straps V, around the bar U. Thebar V., is graduated into feet, inches, and parts of inches, commencingwith the right hand end of the machine, the numbering running backtoward the lefthand end. The cord or line V2, is weighted at one end,and fastened by the other end to the right hand end of the bar V. At theleft hand end of the bar V., is fixed a bar W., at right` angles to it,with numerous pins, between which the cord V2, can be placed. The barV., is now slid forward, beyond the board T. (which is attached to, andmoves with the bar S, as beof bevel is to commence; that is, indeparting from No. l., Fig. 2, Sheet 4E, and proceeding the desireddistance to arrive at the bevel No. 2. The cord is now so placed overthe bar W, that it is over the mark No. 2, on the bevel board T. Thesawing now being made to commence, as the head blocks are drawn alongwith the log, the cord V2, being stationary, the workman, by turning thescrew X., causes the mark No. 2, on the board T., to continue under thecord V2, until the mark No. 2, arrives to the central line of themachine, under the end of the cord V2, which is the termination of thebevel from No. l, to 2. He then will slide the bar V, a distance equalto that between the second and third bevels, as marked on the log, hewill then alter the cord, to coincide with the mark No. 3, on the bevelboard T., and then cause the mark No. 3, to continue under the line orcord V2, until it arrives at the central line, and so on, until thewhole of the desired bevels are cut.

The novelty of the apparatus for showing where the siding is to be madeon the log, is in the use of the plumb lines and fixed index plates, toset the log and the saws, and the novelty of this last described appa.-ratus, is in the use of the boards, P., and T., and the mode oftransferring the bevels from one to the other, and in the modeofindicating the bevels, by the cord and pins, or their equivalents, asthe head block moves along with the log, and the bar S., and index yboard T, are moved by the screw X., so as vto keep the marks on theboard T., successively under the cord V2, as described. t In Sheet 5,Figs. 5, 6, and 7,1s showna variation in the above mode of formingbevels;

l Fig. 5, shows a back elevation of the head block, and parts, withoutthe bar U., and indicator V., shown in Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 4. In placeof these parts, two levers XX., XX., are fitted on the center 0., sothat one lies horizontally to the right, and one to the left of themachine when not in use, and each is fitted with an elbow X0., and screwby which either can be attached to the index pointer X., so as to movewith it, on the center 0. At Y., is a guide bar, on each of the sillsthat support the carriage and head block, reaching to the frames N., toreceive guide slides YX, with a bar between them, that is jointed at theforward end to a lever e., and one of these, on each side thehead block,underlies the ends of the levers Xx., and either one, required to beused, is elevated as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, by pins in a long slot, orby a click and ratchet; so that either lever XX slides down it, as thesawing progresses. The index X., may be made in two T., and oncommencing the adjust-ments, the index X is always to be vertical, beingat right angles to whichever of the levers XX., it is attached to, andat the commencement of the work, the levers e, Figs. 6, and 7, is rto beplaced by sliding on the bar Y., a distance from the lever XX., to thejoint equal to that which is marked on the log, from the first to thesecond bevel, then to be cut. The lever z., is then to be raised,elevating the lever XX., until the pointer X., reaches the point No. 2.,as shown on Fig. 5., and the parts are then properly adjusted, toindicate the bevel required to be cut in that length. It will beunderstood, by 'this description of these parts, that when the work iscommenced with the index X', Fig. 5, at No. 2, on the index board thelever XX, to the left, is elevated on the diagonally placed bar e.,Figs. 6, or 7, and the workman keeps the screws X, and socket u., inmotion, to carry the board to the left, with the bar S, rolling thechuck and log, until the index X., comes to the perpendicular line, thepoint 2, being kept opposite the point of the index, which will havebrought the log to the point of the termination of the first bevel, whenthe parts are to be reset, to produce the next bevel, and so on, insuccession; this apparatus operating to indicate the bevels, in asimilar manner to the cord V2,

and either may be used, as most convenient in particular positions.

I have not thought it necessary to describe, minutely, the means ofgiving motion to the saw gate, nor the action of the feeding apparatus,to move the log up to the saw, they forming no part of the invention;neither have I thought it needful to show all the details of the partswhich are not new, some of them being set forth in my previous patents.

lVhat- I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. Connecting the supporting roller (a) with the lever which forces itup against the under side of the log, by means of a joint and a segmentslot and securing bolt, or

the equivalents thereof, substantially as` specified, so that the saidroller can be inclined in any desired direction from a hori- Zontal lineto suit the inclination of the under side of the log and there securedto give eiiicient support, as set forth.

2. I also claim extending the chucks for supporting the ends of curvedlogs below the head and tail blocks so that the ends of such logs, insiding, may be supported below the surface of the head and tail blocksto bring the upper curved part within the'range of motion of the saw,substantially as specified, when this is combined with the middlesupporting rail on which the lower part of the chucks rest and by whichthey are supported Vduring the operation, as set forth.

3. And finally in the method of indioating the bevels and keeping thelogs to them as it is being saWed, I claim the index hand, Whose axis ofmotion is in a line as nearly so With the axis of rotation of the log,substant-iallj57 as specified, in Combination With either of the sidelevers which have the same axis of motion as the index hand, and theadjustable or shifting inclined Ways, sub- 10 stantially as specified,so that as the carriage advances With the log the passage of the sidelever (Whether on one side or the other) on the inclined plane set t0the required bevel, Will shift the index hand and indicate the truebevel, to enable the operator to turn 15 the log to correspond as setforth.

JAMES HAMILTON. Vtnesses P. J. BUCKEY, PATRICK M. MICKLE.

